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August 1, 2002
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
Leadership qualities keep Ray in Buffalo
The Sabres entered the offseason in dire need of toughness and veteran leadership, so they didn’t waste much time before signing Rob Ray. After all, Ray is a 40-goal scorer. He has 40 goals in his 13-year career. Obviously, the Sabres won’t be relying on Ray for his scoring touch, but he remains a key figure on the team and inside the organization. He signed a one-year deal worth $500,000 to play a 14th NHL season. “I want to be here,” Ray said. “This is my home. This is where I started and this is where I want it to end.” For years, Ray has been a leader in Buffalo’s dressing room and will help a young team. He has not scored more than five goals in a season since 1996-97 and his ice…
Why isn’t anybody trying to sign Iginla, Theodore?
If there were ever a summer to dispel any illusion the NHL is on a collusion course, we’re sweating through it. Jarome Iginla and Jose Theodore - two charismatic, highly marketable 25-year-olds with the potential to dominate for the next decade - became restricted free agents July 1. They play for Canadian, small-market teams that, in theory, might have a difficult time matching a mega offer sheet. Yet the reigning Art Ross/Rocket Richard and Hart/Vezina Trophy winners received as many inquiries on the open market as Bill Muckalt scored goals last season. In fact, no regularly playing Group II free agent has received an offer sheet since Carolina attempted to pry Sergei Fedorov from Detroit in February, 1998 - a span of more than four years. So what gives? Team executives say it’s simply not…
OOPS! they did it AGAIN
Hockey’s other half lives with the small consolation that the rats from New York ruining the game have gone down the same hole they have thrown all their money. Never mind that Detroit used big bucks wisely to win another Cup, or that Group II overspending and its arbitration spillover has had a far more deleterious effect than anything done by the limited amount of teams that have invested in expensive 31-year-old-plus players. But having signed Bobby Holik, the creme de la creme of big and cantankerous centers, and Darius Kasparaitis, who has spilled more milk drinkers than practically any defenseman in the NHL, to $70 million wort! of contract for the next five years, there go the Rangers again brandishing a virtual padlock on the NHL’s 2004-05 season. “Asinine, insane and inflationary,”…
Oilers pin hopes on Dopita, rookies
Two summers ago the Oilers said goodbye to Glen Sather, hello to coach Craig MacTavish and gave rookie GM Kevin Lowe 13 unsigned free agents to reel in before camp. Last summer they traded Doug Weight on Canada Day. This summer? Refreshingly slow. No moves at the draft, no changes in management and only a couple of minor trades. Lowe doesn’t want to overhaul a team that only missed the playoffs by a point, but does want more offense. So inconsistent left winger Jochen Hecht was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for draft picks, and center Jere Dopita was acquired from Philadelphia for draft picks. Dopita has all kinds of potential and they’re hoping he can bring two things: size up the middle and second-line scoring. The club is also banking that some youngsters…
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